Almostdirectlyafterthis，Ifeltaman’shandonmyshoulderandheardSaumarezbellowinginmyearThroughtherattlingofthetreesandhowlingofthewind，Ididnotcatchhiswordsatonce，butatlastIheardhimsay：“I’veproposedtothewrongone！WhatshallIdo？”SaumarezhadnooccasiontomakethisconfidencetomeIwasneverafriendofhis，noramInow；butIfancyneitherofuswereourselvesjustthenHewasshakingashestoodwithexcitement，andIwasfeelingqueeralloverwiththeelectricity。
　　Icouldnotthinkofanythingtosayexcept：——“Morefoolyouforproposinginadust-storm。”ButIdidnotseehowthatwouldimprovethemistake。
　　Thenheshouted：“Where’sEdith——EdithCopleigh？”EdithwastheyoungestsisterIansweredoutofmyastonishment：——“WhatdoyouwantwithHER？”Wouldyoubelieveit，forthenexttwominutes，heandIwereshoutingateachotherlikemaniacs——hevowingthatitwastheyoungestsisterhehadmeanttoproposetoallalong，andI
　　tellinghimtillmythroatwashoarsethathemusthavemadeamistake！Ican’taccountforthisexcept，again，bythefactthatwewereneitherofusourselvesEverythingseemedtomelikeabaddream——fromthestampingofthehorsesinthedarknesstoSaumareztellingmethestoryofhislovingEdithCopleighsincethefirstHewasstillclawingmyshoulderandbeggingmetotellhimwhereEdithCopleighwas，whenanotherlullcameandbroughtlightwithit，andwesawthedust-cloudformingontheplaininfrontofusSoweknewtheworstwasoverThemoonwaslowdown，andtherewasjusttheglimmerofthefalsedawnthatcomesaboutanhourbeforetherealoneButthelightwasveryfaint，andtheduncloudroaredlikeabullIwonderedwhereEdithCopleighhadgone；andasIwaswonderingIsawthreethingstogether：FirstMaudCopleigh’sfacecomesmilingoutofthedarknessandmovetowardsSaumarez，whowasstandingbymeI
　　heardthegirlwhisper，“George。”andslideherarmthroughthearmthatwasnotclawingmyshoulder，andIsawthatlookonherfacewhichonlycomesonceortwiceinalifetime-whenawomanisperfectlyhappyandtheairisfulloftrumpetsandgorgeous-
　　coloredfireandtheEarthturnsintocloudbecauseshelovesandislovedAtthesametime，IsawSaumarez’sfaceasheheardMaudCopleigh’svoice，andfiftyyardsawayfromtheclumpoforange-
　　treesIsawabrownhollandhabitgettinguponahorse。
　　Itmusthavebeenmystateofover-excitementthatmademesoquicktomeddlewithwhatdidnotconcernmeSaumarezwasmovingofftothehabit；butIpushedhimbackandsaid：——“Stophereandexplain。
　　I’llfetchherback！”andIranouttogetatmyownhorseIhadaperfectlyunnecessarynotionthateverythingmustbedonedecentlyandinorder，andthatSaumarez’sfirstcarewastowipethehappylookoutofMaudCopleigh’sfaceAllthetimeIwaslinkingupthecurb-chainIwonderedhowhewoulddoit。
　　IcanteredafterEdithCopleigh，thinkingtobringherbackslowlyonsomepretenceoranotherButshegallopedawayassoonasshesawme，andIwasforcedtorideafterherinearnestShecalledbackoverhershoulder——“Goaway！I’mgoinghomeOh，goaway！”
　　twoorthreetimes；butmybusinesswastocatchherfirst，andarguelaterTheridejustfittedinwiththerestoftheevildreamThegroundwasverybad，andnowandagainwerushedthroughthewhirling，choking“dust-devils“intheskirtsoftheflyingstormTherewasaburninghotwindblowingthatbroughtupastenchofstalebrick-kilnswithit；andthroughthehalflightandthroughthedust-devils，acrossthatdesolateplain，flickeredthebrownhollandhabitonthegrayhorseSheheadedfortheStationatfirstThenshewheeledroundandsetofffortheriverthroughbedsofburntdownjungle-grass，badeventorideapigoverIncoldbloodIshouldneverhavedreamedofgoingoversuchacountryatnight，butitseemedquiterightandnaturalwiththelightningcracklingoverhead，andareeklikethesmellofthePitinmynostrilsIrodeandshouted，andshebentforwardandlashedherhorse，andtheaftermathofthedust-stormcameupandcaughtusboth，anddroveusdownwindlikepiecesofpaper。
　　Idon’tknowhowfarwerode；butthedrummingofthehorse-hoofsandtheroarofthewindandtheraceofthefaintblood-redmoonthroughtheyellowmistseemedtohavegoneonforyearsandyears，andIwasliterallydrenchedwithsweatfrommyhelmettomygaiterswhenthegraystumbled，recoveredhimself，andpulledupdeadlameMybrutewasusedupaltogetherEdithCopleighwasinasadstate，plasteredwithdust，herhelmetoff，andcryingbitterly“Whycan’tyouletmealone？”shesaid“IonlywantedtogetawayandgohomeOh，PLEASEletmego！”
　　“Youhavegottocomebackwithme，MissCopleighSaumarezhassomethingtosaytoyou。”
　　Itwasafoolishwayofputtingit；butIhardlyknewMissCopleigh；and，thoughIwasplayingProvidenceatthecostofmyhorse，IcouldnottellherinasmanywordswhatSaumarezhadtoldmeIthoughthecoulddothatbetterhimselfAllherpretenceaboutbeingtiredandwantingtogohomebrokedown，andsherockedherselftoandfrointhesaddleasshesobbed，andthehotwindblewherblackhairtoleewardIamnotgoingtorepeatwhatshesaid，becauseshewasutterlyunstrung。
　　This，ifyouplease，wasthecynicalMissCopleighHerewasI，almostanutterstrangertoher，tryingtotellherthatSaumarezlovedherandshewastocomebacktohearhimsayso！IbelieveI
　　mademyselfunderstood，forshegatheredthegraytogetherandmadehimhobblesomehow，andwesetoffforthetomb，whilethestormwentthunderingdowntoUmballaandafewbigdropsofwarmrainfellIfoundoutthatshehadbeenstandingclosetoSaumarezwhenheproposedtohersisterandhadwantedtogohomeandcryinpeace，asanEnglishgirlshouldShedabbledhereyeswithherpocket-handkerchiefaswewentalong，andbabbledtomeoutofsheerlightnessofheartandhysteriaThatwasperfectlyunnatural；andyet，itseemedallrightatthetimeandintheplaceAlltheworldwasonlythetwoCopleighgirls，SaumarezandI，ringedinwiththelightningandthedark；andtheguidanceofthismisguidedworldseemedtolieinmyhands。
　　Whenwereturnedtothetombinthedeep，deadstillnessthatfollowedthestorm，thedawnwasjustbreakingandnobodyhadgoneawayTheywerewaitingforourreturnSaumarezmostofall。
　　HisfacewaswhiteanddrawnAsMissCopleighandIlimpedup，hecameforwardtomeetus，and，whenhehelpedherdownfromhersaddle，hekissedherbeforeallthepicnicItwaslikeasceneinatheatre，andthelikenesswasheightenedbyallthedust-
　　white，ghostly-lookingmenandwomenundertheorange-trees，clappingtheirhands，asiftheywerewatchingaplay——atSaumarez’schoiceIneverknewanythingsoun-Englishinmylife。
　　Lastly，SaumarezsaidwemustallgohomeortheStationwouldcomeouttolookforus，andWOULDIbegoodenoughtoridehomewithMaudCopleigh？Nothingwouldgivemegreaterpleasure，Isaid。
　　So，weformedup，sixcouplesinall，andwentbacktwobytwo；
　　SaumarezwalkingatthesideofEdithCopleigh，whowasridinghishorse。
　　Theairwascleared；andlittlebylittle，asthesunrose，Ifeltwewerealldroppingbackagainintoordinarymenandwomenandthatthe“GreatPopPicnic“wasathingaltogetherapartandoutoftheworld——nevertohappenagainIthadgonewiththedust-stormandthetingleinthehotair。
　　Ifelttiredandlimp，andagooddealashamedofmyselfasIwentinforabathandsomesleep。
　　Thereisawoman’sversionofthisstory，butitwillneverbewrittenunlessMaudCopleighcarestotry。
　　THERESCUEOFPLUFFLES。
　　Thus，foraseason，theyfoughtitfair——
　　SheandhiscousinMay——
　　Tactful，talented，debonnaire，Decorousfoeswerethey；
　　ButnevercanbattleofmancompareWithmercilessfemininefray。
　　TwoandOne。
　　MrsHauksbeewassometimesnicetoherownsexHereisastorytoprovethis；andyoucanbelievejustasmuchaseveryouplease。
　　Pluffleswasasubalterninthe“Unmentionables。”Hewascallow，evenforasubalternHewascallowallover——likeacanarythathadnotfinishedfledgingitselfTheworstofitwashehadthreetimesasmuchmoneyaswasgoodforhim；Pluffles’PapabeingarichmanandPlufflesbeingtheonlysonPluffles’MammaadoredhimShewasonlyalittlelesscallowthanPlufflesandshebelievedeverythinghesaid。
　　Pluffles’weaknesswasnotbelievingwhatpeoplesaidHepreferredwhathecalled“trustingtohisownjudgment。”Hehadasmuchjudgmentashehadseatorhands；andthispreferencetumbledhimintotroubleonceortwiceButthebiggesttroublePlufflesevermanufacturedcameaboutatSimla——someyearsago，whenhewasfour-and-twenty。
　　Hebeganbytrustingtohisownjudgment，asusual，andtheresultwasthat，afteratime，hewasboundhandandfoottoMrsReiver’s’rickshawwheels。
　　TherewasnothinggoodaboutMrsReiver，unlessitwasherdress。
　　Shewasbadfromherhair——whichstartedlifeonaBrittany’sgirl’shead——toherboot-heels，whichweretwoandthree-eighthincheshighShewasnothonestlymischievouslikeMrs。
　　Hauksbee；
　　shewaswickedinabusiness-likeway。
　　Therewasneveranyscandal——shehadnotgenerousimpulsesenoughforthatShewastheexceptionwhichprovedtherulethatAnglo-
　　IndianladiesareineverywayasniceastheirsistersatHome。
　　Shespentherlifeinprovingthatrule。
　　MrsHauksbeeandshehatedeachotherferventlyTheyheardfartoomuchtoclash；butthethingstheysaidofeachotherwerestartling——nottosayoriginalMrsHauksbeewashonest——honestasherownfrontteeth——and，butforherloveofmischief，wouldhavebeenawoman’swomanTherewasnohonestyaboutMrs。
　　Reiver；
　　nothingbutselfishnessAndatthebeginningoftheseason，poorlittlePlufflesfellapreytoherShelaidherselfouttothatend，andwhowasPluffles，toresist？Hewentontrustingtohisjudgment，andhegotjudged。
　　IhaveseenHayesarguewithatoughhorse——Ihaveseenatonga-
　　drivercoerceastubbornpony——Ihaveseenariotoussetterbrokentogunbyahardkeeper——butthebreaking-inofPlufflesofthe“Unmentionables“wasbeyondalltheseHelearnedtofetchandcarrylikeadog，andtowaitlikeone，too，forawordfromMrs。
　　ReiverHelearnedtokeepappointmentswhichMrsReiverhadnointentionofkeepingHelearnedtotakethankfullydanceswhichMrsReiverhadnointentionofgivinghimHelearnedtoshiverforanhourandaquarteronthewindwardsideofElysiumwhileMrsReiverwasmakinguphermindtocomeforarideHelearnedtohuntfora’rickshaw，inalightdress-suitunderapeltingrain，andtowalkbythesideofthat’rickshawwhenhehadfounditHelearnedwhatitwastobespokentolikeacoolieandorderedaboutlikeacookHelearnedallthisandmanyotherthingsbesidesAndhepaidforhisschooling。
　　Perhaps，insomehazyway，hefanciedthatitwasfineandimpressive，thatitgavehimastatusamongmen，andwasaltogetherthethingtodoItwasnobody’sbusinesstowarnPlufflesthathewasunwiseThepacethatseasonwastoogoodtoinquire；andmeddlingwithanotherman’sfollyisalwaysthanklesswork。
　　Pluffles’ColonelshouldhaveorderedhimbacktohisregimentwhenheheardhowthingsweregoingButPluffleshadgothimselfengagedtoagirlinEnglandthelasttimehewenthome；andiftherewasonethingmorethananotherwhichtheColoneldetested，itwasamarriedsubalternHechuckledwhenheheardoftheeducationofPluffles，andsaiditwas“goodtrainingfortheboy。”
　　ButitwasnotgoodtrainingintheleastItledhimintospendingmoneybeyondhismeans，whichweregood：abovethat，theeducationspoiltanaverageboyandmadeitatenth-ratemanofanobjectionablekindHewanderedintoabadset，andhislittlebillatHamilton’swasathingtowonderat。
　　ThenMrsHauksbeerosetotheoccasionSheplayedhergamealone，knowingwhatpeoplewouldsayofher；andsheplayeditforthesakeofagirlshehadneverseenPluffles’fianceewastocomeout，underthechaperonageofanaunt，inOctober，tobemarriedtoPluffles。
　　AtthebeginningofAugust，MrsHauksbeediscoveredthatitwastimetointerfereAmanwhoridesmuchknowsexactlywhatahorseisgoingtodonextbeforehedoesitInthesameway，awomanofMrsHauksbee’sexperienceknowsaccuratelyhowaboywillbehaveundercertaincircumstances——notablywhenheisinfatuatedwithoneofMrsReiver’sstampShesaidthat，soonerorlater，littlePluffleswouldbreakoffthatengagementfornothingatall——simplytogratifyMrsReiver，who，inreturn，wouldkeephimatherfeetandinherservicejustsolongasshefounditworthherwhile。
　　ShesaidsheknewthesignsofthesethingsIfshedidnot，nooneelsecould。
　　ThenshewentforthtocapturePlufflesunderthegunsoftheenemy；justasMrsCusack-BremmilcarriedawayBremmilunderMrs。
　　Hauksbee’seyes。